Page 75 of Stone

He grimaced slightly before glancing at his dad, then back to me. “Glad I saw you. I wanted to apologize for what happened the last time I saw you. I was acting up, and it went too far. I had a hard time coming home from law school and adjusting, but there’s no excuse.”

I took in his open face and the red stain on his cheeks. I could tell he was embarrassed about his behavior and seemed contrite. Plus, it must’ve taken some courage to admit his faults, especially in front of his dad and their cronies.

I held my hand out. “No hard feelin’s, Rob. I get the adjusting thing. It’s hard comin’ home after experiencing so much change. It can be jarring.”

Robert took my hand and shook it. “Thanks, Stone. Do you wanna grab a beer tomorrow down at the Shamrock? Catch up some?”

“Sure,” I told him, my gaze dropped to Leesy. “If that’s okay with you.”

She looked between me and Robbie and nodded slowly. “I can see you after.”

My eyes met Robert’s again. “Six?”

He grinned, his expression open and honest, mixed with a hint of relief. “Yeah. Six.” He glanced at his dad, who by then was in deep conversation about the devilment of franchises and how they were the end of small-town commerce in rural America, before asking me, “You hanging around here for the rest of the night?”

I tucked Elise under my arm. “Nah, me and the missus will be at the clubhouse by the time the ball drops.”

“Ahh, the infamous Speed Demons’ parties,” he muttered, lifting his glass to his mouth. “Never forget the time you took me to one before. It was the best night of my life.”

My lips twitched because I was sure Rob was thinking about the two club girls who dragged him off. He wasn’t seen again until the next night, and I could’ve sworn by then he was walking bow-legged. It was the weekend before Elise turned sixteen, the weekend before I noticed her. I’d left Rob to it. I didn’t indulge back then; by that time, I was already jaded and was looking for something more profound, but still, they were good times.

“Come with us,” I offered. “You know how the club works by now.”

Elise’s body stiffened.

His face lit up. “Can I?”

Elise’s grip tightened on my back, but it was too late now. I’d already blurted out the invitation. “Course you can. We’re hanging here for an hour first, but you can come back with us.”

“Cool,” he muttered, obviously happy as a pig in shit at the prospect of partying with the girls again.

I couldn’t help smiling indulgently at the pleased expression on Rob’s face. He seemed how he used to before he went off to Yale, back when we were much closer. Robert had always had an edge, but he was fundamentally an okay guy, even though he could veer into assholedom at times.

Maybe it was time to bury the hatchet, though a small part of me hoped it wouldn’t be buried in my back. Still, beggars couldn’t be choosers. I needed all the friends I could get to look out for Elise, especially with the way my dad was being. And while Robert was off fucking club girls, at least he was leaving mine alone.

“Gonna mingle,” he said, nodding to Leesy. Then he turned and walked off, throwing over his shoulder, “Don’t leave without me.”

I felt Elise’s body heave in a hard sigh.

“Sorry, baby,” I muttered, turning my head so I said the words into her hair. “It was out my mouth before my brain engaged.”

She tugged my sleeve, pulling me away from the men who still engaged in conversation about their good ol’ boy shit, and I knew I was in trouble.

“I don’t want to spend New Year with him,” she whisper-shouted. “Oh my God, John. Six months ago, you told me to stay away from Robbie. Now you’re inviting him out with us for New Year. What were you thinking?”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “That’s just it, I wasn’t thinking,” I said ruefully, my gut clenching at the disappointment on Leesy’s face. “I’m sorry, Duchess. Look, we won’t see him all night. He’ll be off with a woman before you can bat an eyelash. He’ll probably go missing until Easter.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Leesy,” I murmured, taking her hands. “It’ll be fine. Honest. What’s he gonna do, start his shit in a clubhouse full of bikers? Robert’s a lotta things, but stupid’s not one of ‘em.”

Her lips pursed. “Okay. You’re right; I doubt Rob’ll hang around us all night.” Her hand went to her hip, and she cocked an eyebrow. “Or else you’ll be in trouble.”

We needn’t have worried, because the second the three of us walked into the clubhouse, Foxy grabbed Robert’s hand and whisked him off.

My lips twitched as I watched him down a shot of hooch, debating whether to tell him to make sure he wrapped it up—I mean, Foxy got around. But I kept my mouth shut; it was every man for himself. I had my Leesy, and I intended for us to see the New Year together and have some fun. If Foxy gave the mayor’s son a moldy dick, it was on him.

The beats thumped so hard the place seemed to vibrate. The sweet crashing drum and synth intro to ‘Personal Jesus’ by Depeche Mode began to play through the speakers, and the entire room moved in time to the pulsing thud of the bassline.

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